A corpora



March 18, 1930. 35 VAULT Re. 17,626

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Original Filed Au 8, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3sheetssheet 2 Jade/2M R. P. DE VA ULT MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS OriginalFiled Aug. s, 1918 March 18, 1930.

March 18, 1930.- R, P, DE VAULT Re. 17,626 MOTION PICTURE APPARATUSOriginal Filed Aug. 8, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 3MillIIIHIIIIHIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Reissuecl Mar.18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH P. DE VAULT, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ACME MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA-TION OF ILLINOIS Original No. 1;347,326, dated July 20, 1920, Serial Nofiled July 18, 1922.

- mittently moving film class it is customary to cutoff the light duringthe, movement of the film and this interruption of the light is thecause of the objectionable flicker. To reduce the flicker it iscustomary to provide the shutter with other interrupting portionscausing further interruptions of the light while the film is at rest andwhile this reduces the pronouncedflicker it also reduces theillumination on the screen, the average machine allowing about fiftypercent of the light minus the density of the film to reach the screen.

The main objects of this invention are: I

First, to provide in a motion picture apparatus an improved film drivingmeans whereby the time of changing pictures is reduced, reducing theperiod of darkness so that it ispractically imperceptible andtherefore'itis not necessary to introduce other periods of darkness orinterruptions."

4o inent of my invention is clearly illustrated in Second, to provide animproved motion picture apparatus utilizing a large percentage of theillumination.

Third, to provide in a motion picture apparatus an improved filmdrivingmeans having these advantages which is very economical and durable instructure. I

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodithe accompanying drawing, forminga part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail view mainly in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 11 of- Figs. II, III and V.

Fig. II is a detail side. elevation, parts being shown in dotted linesto better illustrat the manipulation thereof.

Fig. III is a detail view looking from .the

responding to line 77 films of well-known type.

MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS 248,851, filed August 8, 1918. Application forreissue Serial No. 575,826.

Fig. VI is a detail view similar to that of v Fig. V with parts removed.A

Fig. VII is a detail section on a line corof Fig. VIII showing detailsof the feed and guide roller supports.

. Fig. VIII is a'detail section on a line corresponding to line 88 ofFig. VII.

- Fig. IX is a side view of one of the star gear wheels.

Fig. X is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line10-10 of Fig. I through one of the film sprockets andone of the feedrollers.

Fig. XI is a perspective-view of the Geneva, stop movement drivingmember.

Fig. XII is a perspective view of the film aperture gate. 1

Fig. XIII is a vertical section on a line corresponding to line 1313 ofFig. XII.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the frame of a moving picturemachine, 2'the gear box or housing mounted thereon and 3 the lens boxorcasing. Details of the shutter are not illustrated as they form no partof I provide a air of film sprockets 5 and 6,

the sprocket 5 ing disposed above and the sprocket 6 being disposedbelow the aperture gate or framing device 4. These sprockets have teeth7 to engage perforations, in the The spindles 8 for the'film sprocketsare carried bythe b'earings 9 mounted on the gear box 2. The

- sprockets and 6 are so disposed that their coact with the filmperipheries are non-tangential to the plane of the gate whereby to causea relatively large portion ofthe film to wrap or engage the sprockets.

I provide film pressure rollers 10 which nprovided with the annularflanges 10' on -The rollers 10 are mounted so as thereof. These rollersare mounted on swinging arms 11 pivoted at 12.

Guide rollers 13 are also mounted on these swinging arms to ventsfluttering of ing 26 at the inner side 1 .by the cap plate 28.

engage the film as it passes from the sprocket 5 and to the sprocket 6guiding it to the aperture gate, as shown in Fig. IV, and also holdingthe film to the film sprockets so that there is substantial peripheralcontact of the film with, the sprockets insuring the simultaneousengagement of several of the pins of each roller with the iilmapertures. The printing device or gate is provided with a plates underwhich the film passes. This plate is spaced from the gate so as to allowa free movement of the film without any braking or gripping actionthereon and prethe film. Between the guide rollers the film is free frombraking friction, it being a rather common expedient to preventoverthrow of the film by braking friction at this point. 7

Springs 14 hold the rollers 10 yieldingly downward, adjustable stops 15being provided for the rollers. Ilhe film sprockets are preferably madeup of a spool 16 of hard rubber fitted upon the spindle and securedthereon by the screw 17 a barrel 18 of aluminum having film engagingteeth, and a facing or covering 19 of suitable fabric. The pressurerollers 10 are similarly constructed having peripheral grooves 20therein to accom-. modate the teeth of the sprockets. This constructionis of advantage in that the rollers are light and at the same strong forthe purpose.

The spindles are provided with driven Geneva gears or star wheels 21having radial slots 22 therein having outwardly diverging surfaces 23 atthe entrance thereof. The driving member 24 of the Geneva movement ismounted on the shaft 25 carried by the bearof the housing and by abridge 27 at the outer side of the housing, the outer side of thehousing being closed A balance wheel 29 is secured to this driving shaft25.

The shaft of the driving member is pro- .vided with a beveled gear30.with which a gear 31 on the shaft 32 meshes. This shaft 32 isprovided with a pinion 33 meshing with the large gear 34 on the powershaft 35, crank or other means being provided for driving the shaft 35.

The Geneva movement 24: is disposed besprockets, and are each timesufliciently provements in an tween the star gears 21 and is providedwith slots thereof with which the locking cams 38 coact. The cams haverecesses 39 opposite the pins permitting the turning of the star wheels.It Will be observed that the driving pins 36-3 6 have a plurality ofperiods of movement, in one of which these elements are out ofengagement with the driven members, that is, the star wheels 21, asshown in Figure 'V, another perlod in which said pins are in non-drivingengagement with the driven members, as seen in dotted lines in Figure V,and yet another period in which the pins are in driving engagement withthe driven members, or star wheels. One of these three positions, thesecond mentioned, namely, the

non-driving engagement, is attained by the divergent sides of the radialslots 22. The diverging surfaces 23 of the slots permit the pins toenter well into the slots before coming into operative engagement withthe star wheels, that is, they pass well toward the axes thereof asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. V. This shortens the period ofactuation of the star wheels so that the time of shifting or actuationof the film is materially reduced. The time of actuation in thestructure illustrated is about one-twelfth of the" time of completerotation of the driving member. I thus reduce the period of operation tosuch an extent that the period of darkness or interruption is such as tobe unobjectionable and therefore it is not necessary to provide for orintroduce other periods of darkness or interruption while the film is atrest. This greatly increases the efliciency of the light and I havesucceeded in utilizing about ninety per cent, which result is greatly inexcess of What has been heretofore accomplished.

I am able to eliminate the friction usually provided to check the filmwhere a single sprocket feed is provided and thus relieve the film ofthe strains of the extra speed in the intermittent feed. I accomplishthese objects in a very simple and eifective manner and secure theincreased speed without increasing the speed of the driving member.

I have illustrated and described my im embodiment which I have foundvery satisfactory and practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe certain modifications or adaptations which I contemplate as Ibelievethe disclosure made i will enable those skilled in the art towhich my invention relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desiredHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a motion picture apparatus of the class comprising anintermittently driven film and an aperture gate, the combinationfriction between said film sprockets, spin-' of a pair of film sprocketsdisposed one at each side of the gate, feed rollers disposed at theouter sides of the film sprockets to hold dles for said film sprockets,star wheels on said spindles provided with slots having outwardlydiverging surfaces at the entrance 5. thereof and concave lockingsurfaces between the slots, and a driving wheel disposed between saidstar wheels and provided with a pair of oppositely disposed andoppositely projecting pins coacting with said star wheel slots and withrecessed cylindrical locking cams on the sides thereof, arranged so thatthe pins travel over the diverging surfaces of the slotsvwhil'e thelocking cams are in looking engagement with the star wheels.

2. In a motion picture apparatus of the class comp-rising anintermittently driven film and an aperture gate, the combination of apair of film sprockets disposed one at each side of the gate, spindlesfor said film sprockets, star wheels on said spindles provided withslots having outwardly diverging surfaces at theentrance thereofandconcave locking surfaces between the slots, and a driving wheel disposedbetweensaid star wheels and provided with a pair of oppositely disposedand oppositely projecting pins coacting with said star wheel slots andwith recessed cylindrical locking cams on the sides thereof arranged sothat the pins travel over the diverging surfaces of the slots while thelocking cams are in looking engagement with the star wheels.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair offilm sprockets, driven star Wheels therefor provided with slots havingoutwardly diverging surfaces at the entrance thereof and concave lockingsurfaces between the slots, and a driving wheel disposed between saidstar wheels and provided with a pair of oppositely disposed andoppositely projecting pins coacting with said star wheel slots andwith'recessed cylin-. drical locking cams on the sides thereof arrangedso that the pins travel over the diverging surfaces of the slots Whilethe locking cams are in locking engagement with the star wheels.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a filmsprocket, a driven wheel therefor provided with slots having outwardlydiverging surfaces at the entrance thereof and concave locking surfacesbetween the slots, and a driving wheel provided with a pin coacting withsaid driven wheel slots and with a locking cam arranged so that the pintravels over the diverging surfaces of the slots while the locking ,camis in locking engagement with the driven wheel.

5. In a structureof the class described, in combination, film advancingmeans and means for operating said advancing means com rising a drivenmember and driving.

mem er, said driving member having a plurality of perlods of movement inone of WlllCll it is out of engagement with said driven member, in asecond of which it is in nondrivlng engagement with said drlven memberand in the third of which it is in driving engagement with. said drivenmember, and means for locking said driven member against movement whilethe driving member is in said second period of movement.

6. In a structure of the class described, in combination, film advancingmeans. and means for operating said advancing means comprising a drivenmember and driving member, said driving member having a plurality ofperiods of movement in one of which it is out of engagement with saiddriven member, in a second of which it is in nondriving engagement withsaiddriven member and in the third of which it is in driving engagementwith said driven member, and means for locking said driven memberagainst movement while the driving member is in said first and secondperiods of movement.

7 In a structure of the class described, in combination, film advancingmeans and means for operating said advancing means comprising a drivenmember and driving member, said driving member having a plurality ofperiods of movement in one of which it is out of engagement with saiddriven member, in a second of which it is in non-driving engagement withsaid driven member and in the third of which it is in driving engagementwith said driven member, the parts being so constructed and arrangedthat the driven member is locked against movement while the drivingmember is in one of said periods of movement. I

- 8. In a device of the character described,

in combinatioma film advancing means, and

means for giving said film advancing means a step-by-step movement,comprising a driven -member having a slot and a driving element itsinitial movement through the slot is in non-driving engagement therewithand in its continued movement is in driving engagement therewith.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, a filmadvancing means, and means for giving said film advancing means astep-by-step movement, comprising a driven member having a slot and adriving element and means for moving said element into the slot, theparts being so arranged and constructed that the driving element in itsinitial movement through the slot is in non driving engagement therewithand the driven member is locked against movement.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, anaperturegate, film advancing means at each end of the gate, a pluralityof driven members for operating said advancing means, and a singledriving member having a plurality of driving elements complemental toand adapted to engage only one each of said driven members,

a means for rotating said driving elements,

a complete revolution to cause the same to operate to give-each of thedriven members a simultaneous single increment of movement during aportion only of a complete revolution of the driving member.

12. Ina device of the character described, in combination, an aperturegate, film advancing means on each end of the gate and means foroperating said advancing means comprising a driving member having apin-V rality of driving elements, each of which is complemental to andoperates in such alignment as to operate only one of the film advancingmeans and to be non-efiective on any of the others.

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, an aperturegate, film advancing means on each end of the gate, a driven member foreach advancing means, a driving member for bothof said advanc ing means,said driven members-being complemental to and coacting each with adifferentdriving portion of the driving member and non co-acting withany of said driving portions.

14. In a structure of the class described, in combination, of a filmsprocket, a driven member therefor provided with a slot having a widenedmouth, a driving member having a, driving element coacting with saidslot, and locking means, all arranged so that the driven member islocked against movement as the driving element is moving through thewidened mouth of the slot.

15. In a device of the character described and including in combinationan aperture gate, a film advancing means on each side of the gate andmeans for operating said film means, said sprockets being disposedsubstantially above and below said aperture gate, with the perimeter ofthe one disposed below the gate extending a-substantial distance to theback of the aperture gate and means for causing thefilm to be heldagainst the gate.

16. In a and including in combination an aperture gate, film feedingmeans to each side of said gate, above and below the same, a drivenmember for each advancing means, a driving member for both of saidadvancing members, said driven members coacting with a different portionof the driving member, of a film sprocket associated with each of saiddriven members, the sprocket below the aperture gate being disposed withits perimeter substantially a distance to the rear of said aperture gateand means for causing said film to curve for a substantial distancewherebya plurality of teeth will engage the RALPH PULLIAM DE VAULT.

device of the character described advancing means comprlsing'a drivingmemher having a plurality of driving elements,

each of which operates only one of the film advancing means, of a filmsprocket asso,

ciated with each of said film advancing

